The demand for natural gas as a clean fuel will sustain the industry into the future.

Wisconsin has a history of industrial (foundry sands) sand mining that has recorded very few problems in 100+ years.

When compared to other types of mining, sand mining has minimal environmental impact and sand mines can be reclaimed successfully.

Potential Problems and Issues

Groundwater usage and potential for contamination.

Air quality; dust and the risks from crystalline silica.

Truck traffic, safety and cost of road maintenance.

Blasting and potential damage to structures.

Noise levels and hours of operation.

Reclamation and subsequent land use.

Groundwater use- DNR regulates high capacity wells. Permits are based on extensive review.

Mines and processing plants routinely recycle as much water as possible

Impact to private wells can be minimized if mining companies :

well survey and/or

guarantee a water supply for close neighbors.

This type of arrangement has worked successfully for the aggregate industry and protects the operator at a small cost compared to litigation.

How serious are the problems? How do we deal with them?

Water quality- Runoff and surface water impact is regulated by DNR. Sand mining has the same potential for groundwater impact as a limestone quarry or gravel pit.

The issue of prime concern is potential contamination from flocculants used in settling ponds. There is currently little data available and no standards or regulations, but also no history of problems from older mines.

How serious are the problems? How do we deal with them?

Air Quality Issues Frac sand requires clean, round unbroken grains.

Processing involves disaggregation and screening, usually done wet, rather than dry grinding.

A frac sand plant will produce less angular crystalline silica dust than a quarry that crushes quartzite or a gravel pit that dry crushes coarse material.

There are standard ways to minimize dust such as watering haul roads, paving roads, spraying conveyor belts, and wash baths for truck tires that have proven successful in other mining operations.

MSHA and OSHA have strict workplace standards, and DNR and EPA air standards also apply.

Operating Issues

Blasting is regulated by Dept of Commerce. Blasting is only used to loosen material. If rock is too heavily cemented, it is not useful for frac sand!

Traffic, operating schedule, road maintenance etc. are best handled in a conditional use permit, but if no zoning, direct negotiation between Town government and the mining company can be productive as in Town of Howard in Chippewa Co.

Reclamation is regulated under N.R.135, and a plan subject to public comment, along with financial assurance must be in place before mining begins.

So, what can we conclude?

The sandstone formations of Wisconsin and Minnesota are the some of the best available for frac sand.

As long as fracking is the best available technology for producing previously unrecoverable natural gas, frac sand mining will continue to be big business in our region.

Interest in Wisconsin sand has been growing, but the sand boom took us by surprise. Many counties were overwhelmed by mining applications, and the scale of mining has presented problems we havent dealt with before.

Continued The good news is that Wisconsin has a 100 year history of

sand mining with very few problems. Most environmental issues can be dealt with under existing regulations, by using existing technology, and applying standard industry practices.

Many new mines rely on truck transport. This means traffic and safety issues and potential road maintenance issues that need to be resolved.

Operational issues can usually be resolved by zoning conditions or negotiation.

As new mines come into production, the demand should be met and the pace of development should slow, allowing time to work out remaining issues.

Questions for municipalities

How large of an operation is proposed? # of trucks daily

How do the proposed operations deal with dust mitigation/control?

How will this operation effect neighboring properties? Overall local land use?

Is water drawdown part of the operational needs of this proposed mine/quarry?